Why did Paul wish to give them a reason to be proud of him?

Back to Study the Book of Second Corinthians

So that the believers in Corinth would be able to give an answer to people who came among them and boasted of appearances rather than what truly was in the heart.

Paul expresses the same thought in both First and Second Corinthians. Paul had founded the church in Corinth. As soon as he left there came in other teachers who were seeking their own gain, not Christ’s gain.

Whereas Paul deliberately made himself to be nothing of importance and spoke plainly and simply, these other teachers exalted themselves and pretended to be important and capable.

These self-seeking teachers attempted to make the Corinthian Christians believe that Paul was not an apostle and was not to be followed or heeded.

Paul refers to this problem several times and attempts to reassure the saints in Corinth that he actually is an apostle of Christ and has presented to them the true way of the Lord.

There always have been false, self-seeking teachers and leaders in the churches of Christ, just as there are today. How many ministers of today truly love the Lord Jesus?

How many are active in the churches because of the personal gain they are deriving?

The coming tribulation will answer this question.